Man sues NSCDC for wrongful detention

A middle aged man, Adebayo Gbeminiyi Orelaja, has sued the National Security and Civil Defence Corps for wrongfully detaining him over a crime he claimed he never committed. In a petition filed on his behalf by his lawyers, C. G. Giwa-Amu & Co, and made available to newsmen, Orelaja, who lives at 7, Oremeji Street, Ojokoro Village, Agric Owutu area of Ikorodu in Lagos State, said he received a call on April 7, 2013 from his nephew, who informed him that a particular official of the NSCDC who resides in the same premises with him wanted to see him. Narrating his story further, he said though he was apprehensive about what the official wanted to see him for and that for the mere fact that his nephew would not have planted a bobby trap for him, he doused any fear as he embarked on the journey to Abeokuta, the venue of the meeting. He was however taken aghast on arriving at the residence of the NSCDC official, simply identified as Lukman, who put a call through to an obvious;y senior colleague of his that gave the instruction for him (Orelaja) to appear in the Corps office on April 8, 2013 “for a chat.” Orelaja said he declined to appear on that date because he had already been slated to attend to some businesses at Ibefun in Ogun State. However, he gave his words that since he would be free the following Wednesday, he would honor the invitation then. He said when he reported at the NSCDC’s office on the appointed date, an order was given for him to be detained. No one told him what his offence was. Orelaja is thus claiming that his arrest and detention is unjustifiable.